Here are answers to some of the most common questions we receive about garden plants. You will find concise information on general gardening techniques as well as plant selection and care. For detailed information on specific plant pests and problems refer to our Common Garden Pests and Problems page.

Do you have additional gardening questions? Please contact us. Here's how.

Horticulture Questions and Answers

Home  >  Gardening Techniques  >  Soil  >  Plant Culture  >  General Pests and Problems  >  Which pre-emergent weed killers (herbicides) can I use in my lawn, flower beds or vegetable garden?

Which pre-emergent weed killers (herbicides) can I use in my lawn, flower beds or vegetable garden?

 

Chemical (a)

Type

Use

Controls

Additional Comments

Corn Gluten Meal

Botanical

Turf/Ornamentals/
Vegetables

Grassy and broadleaved weeds/non selective

A natural by product of the wet milling process of corn. Short residual. All products are naturally about 10% nitrogen. Varying claims of effectiveness.

Treflan

Synthetic

Ornamentals/Vegetables

Selective broadleaved and grassy weeds

Up to 3 month residual. Consult label’s instructions for use around certain vegetables. Available with and without fertilizer.

Barricade®

Synthetic

Turf/Ornamentals

A wide range of grassy and broadleaved weeds in warm and cool season grasses.

Longest residual-care should be taken when applying this product in the spring. Cool season grass germination may also be affected in the fall. Available with and without fertilizer.

Dimension®

Synthetic

Turf/Ornamentals

A wide range of grassy and broadleaved weeds in warm and cool season grasses

Long residual. Available with and without fertilizer. May be applied later than most pre-emergence herbicides. Has the added feature of post-emergence control of crabgrass up to the 3 leaf stage.

Pendelum®

Synthetic

Turf

Selective broadleaved and grassy weeds

Shorter residual, second application may be required. Available with and without fertilizer.

Team®

Synthetic

Turf

Grassy weeds in warm and cool season grasses

Shorter residual, second application may be required. A combination of Balan and Treflan. Available with and without fertilizer.

Tupersan®

Synthetic

Turf

Annual grassy weeds when seeding cool season grasses in the spring.

Only chemical that can be used to control annual grassy weeds when seeding a cool season lawn in the spring. Short residual. Second application required in 4 weeks.

 

Notes:
Except for Tupersan, all of the products labeled for turf will prevent cool season grasses from germinating for an extended period of time. Always consult the label of the product being used for specific instructions, limitations and warnings.